What Are the Formats of the NFL?

The NFL is returning again with all the excitement and thrills. Since there was a few months gap, let’s make sure you have not forgotten the format. In case you are a new watcher, it is going to be very helpful for you.

The NFL is played in 3 rounds. The first round is the preseason round, where each team plays four exhibition games. The next round is the regular season, which is followed by the playoffs. And the grand final is the Super Bowl. Let’s explain the formats in detail.

The Preseason Round

The preseason round is to warm up the players, fans, and teams. Teams can do some experiments in these matches to find out the new potential players. Players can also warm up themselves before the regular season. Also, it draws the attention of the fans for the next rounds.

Each team usually gets to play four matches in this round. Losing these matches does not usually affect their chance of reaching the playoffs. It lets the teams do some experiments with their players and combinations. The round takes place for three to four weeks.

The Regular Season

The regular season consists of 17 games for each team. All 32 teams compete in this round to punch their ticket to the playoffs. The 32 teams are divided into 2 conferences, each containing 16 teams. 7 teams from each conference reach the playoffs.

The 16 teams are then divided into four divisions. Let’s check on the teams of the 2023 NFL and their respective divisions:

AFC- American Football Conference

Division	Teams	AFC Championship	Super Bowl
AFC East	New England Patriots	6	6
	Buffalo Bills	0	0
	Miami Dolphins	2	2
	New York Jets	0	0
AFC North	Baltimore Ravens	2	2
	Cincinnati Bengals	0	0
	Cleveland Browns	0	0
	Pittsburgh Steelers	6	6
AFC South	Houston Texans	0	0
	Indianapolis Colts	2	0
	Jacksonville Jaguars	0	0
	Tennessee Titans	0	0
AFC West	Denver Broncos	3	3
	Kansas City Chiefs	2	2
	Las Vegas Raiders	3	3
	Los Angeles Chargers	0	0

NFC- National Football Conference

Division	Teams	NFC Championship	Super Bowl
NFC East	Dallas Cowboys	8	5
	Philadelphia Eagles	3	1
	New York Giants	5	4
	Washington Commanders	5	4
NFC North	Green Bay Packers	3	2
	Chicago Bears	2	1
	Minnesota Vikings	3	0
	Detroit Lions	0	0
NFC South	New Orleans Saints	1	1
	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2	2
	Carolina Panthers	2	0
	Atlanta Falcons	2	0
NFC West	San Francisco 49ers	7	5
	Seattle Seahawks	3	1
	Los Angeles Rams	5	0
	Arizona Cardinals	1	1

The Playoffs

After an 18-week regular season, 14 teams finally reach the playoffs. 8 division winners from the 2 conferences and 6 wildcard teams get to compete in the Playoffs. The playoffs are also divided into three different phases: Wildcard round, Divisional Round, and Conference Championships.

1. The Wildcard Round

12 out of 14 teams compete in this round. The top-seeded division winner receives a bye week and does not compete in the round. The other six teams compete in the one-match elimination round for their spots in the Divisional round.

2. Divisional Round

Now we have four teams remaining in the tournament in each conference. The winners of the Wild Card round join the top-seeded division winners in the Divisional round. The remaining teams compete for a spot in the Conference Championships.

A total of four games are played in two conferences. Two teams from each conference reach the conference round of their respective conference.

3. Conference Championships

The two teams that emerge victorious from the Divisional round in each conference face off in the Conference Championships. The winners of the Conference Championships represent their conference in the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl

It is the most anticipated night of the year. The AFC champion and the NFC champion come head-to-head. The match is typically held on the first Sunday in February. This game determines the NFL champion for that season.

FAQs

How many teams play in the regular season of the NFL?

A total of 32 teams compete in the regular season of the NFL. The teams are divided into two conferences: AFC and NFC. Each conference is further then divided into four divisions.

What is the match format of the NFL?

An NFL match is divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. Each team has an offense side and a defense side. The defense’s objective is to stop the opposing team’s offense from advancing and scoring points.

Conclusion

The NFL has different rounds, which makes it more competitive and anticipative. Each round has its own excitement. Let’s hope the article has helped you understand the format of the tournament, and you can now enjoy the NFL without any confusion regarding the format.

Read Also: How Many Teams Are in the NFL